NEW CASTLE — On Saturday, Oct. 23, the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Department will participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s 21st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

This initiative, which focuses on removing potentially dangerous drugs from the nation’s homes, provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceuticals and other medications to law enforcement officers for proper disposal.

According to Colonel Richard Arroyo, Police Administrator for the Authority, this DEA program addresses a vital public safety and health issue.

“The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids has found that 66% of teens who misused pain relievers got them from family and friends, including their home’s medicine cabinets,” Col. Arroyo said. “It is important to properly dispose of expired, unwanted or unused prescription medicines to diminish opportunities for easy access to these medications. We hope many people will take advantage of this opportunity to do just that.”

Col. Arroyo added that the program is confidential.

“No questions or requests for identification will be made by law enforcement personnel present,” he said. “In fact, participants will be asked to remove any personal information from bottles or packages.”

Numerous collections sites are established throughout the area for the public to relinquish over the counter, controlled substance or prescription drugs – including tablets, capsules, ointments, creams and liquids as well as expired animal medication and vitamins. No syringes please.

Since the bi-state agency began participating in the NTBI in 2010, more than 2,500 pounds of medication have been collected at DRBA sites.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DRBA Police Department’s three collection sites:

• New Castle Airport Terminal Building, 151 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle
• Lewes Ferry Terminal, 43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes
• Cape May Ferry Terminal, 1200 Lincoln Boulevard., N. Cape May, NJ

Studies show that most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are also advised that the typical methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

The public can find the nearest collection sites in their community by logging on to the internet and going to the www.dea.gov website and clicking on the drug disposal icon. After clicking on the icon, you must enter your zip code and the database will query the collection sites that have been registered and provide you with the nearest collection site near that zip code.